Jorge Lorenzo of Movistar Yamaha shatters the lap record at Misano to clinch pole for the Italian GP.
After a string of bad races, reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo is finally back to his usual relentless pace. The Spaniard stormed to pole at Misano today while also breaking the lap record of the San Marino circuit in the process. Teammate and local favourite Valentino Rossi came a distant second while Lorenzo’s replacement for next year at Yamaha – Maverick Vinales – will be joining the duo with his Suzuki on the front row.
Lorenzo’s pace had been devastating over the entire practice session. In the final qualifying session, Lorenzo straightaway put the hammer down, posting the fastest lap of the session in his first attempt. The Spaniard would go on to improve his times before finally putting a record braking 1’31.868 lap time. This is also the first time a motorcycle has lapped the Misano circuit in a lap time of 1 minute 31 seconds! Impressed by his own lap time, Lorenzo even described this as “may be the best lap of my life”.
Rossi will try and keep tabs on his teammate as his race pace also looks impressive. Fresh from his win at the BritishGP, Vinales will be looking forward to get a spot on the podium in the race tomorrow. Current championship points leader Marc Marquez will be starting fourth. Ducati’s test-rider Michele Pirro (replacement for the injured Andrea Iannone for this race) and Andrea Dovizioso will start fifth and sixth, respectively.
Cal Crutchlow of LCR Honda will lead the third row in seventh ahead of Dani Pedrosa in eight and Aleix Espargaro in ninth. Pol Espargaro will start tenth.
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